Pans made of stainless steel are durable and have a beautiful appearance. But all this is subject to proper operation and timely washing. Stainless steel does not deform from heat and is not prone to corrosion due to the fact that the chromium in the material comes into contact with oxygen and creates a protective layer. Leaving such dishes in the mud for a long time, the protection weakens, and stainless steel becomes unusable. Let’s consider how to clean a stainless steel pan, keeping it “commercial” appearance.
How to clean and wash
Old pollution is the main enemy of stainless steel. Therefore, the pans should be washed immediately after use, without leaving them to sit in the sink waiting for a long time. Use the usual liquid detergent and a soft sponge. In no case, not abrasive detergents and not metal washcloths, which only scratch the coating of stainless steel, giving an impetus to the destruction of the material.
It is recommended to wash the stainless steel pan by hand, that is, not in the dishwasher. Walk through all the pollution. Rinse well and evaluate the appearance of the dishes. A special feature of stainless steel is its shiny surface. This is as important as cleanliness in general. To keep the pan shining in your kitchen, don’t leave it to dry naturally. Otherwise, dilutions from water, or rather from minerals in its composition, will remain on it. Immediately after washing, wipe the surface thoroughly with a lint-free cotton towel. Wipe in spots, as rubbing can leave marks.
Housewives recommend rubbing stainless steel pans with raw potatoes, which will give dishes a glossy shine. Well, or you can use special professional tools from the store.
A glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth will help to clean stainless steel from fingerprints, scratches and restore its shine. Be sure to rinse the dishes after use and wipe them dry.
How to clean old stains
If it so happened that a stainless steel pot got burnt or stood for a long time with food residues without cleaning, do not try to wipe off the contamination with a metal sponge – this way you will only increase the situation. First, you need to soften the dirt, and then wash it in the usual way. The following tools will help in this:
It should be noted that it is not possible to scrape a stainless steel pan under any circumstances, so if the method described below did not help the first time, then repeat the procedure again or use another solution until the dirt softens to the desired state.
- Soda. Clean the pan from dirt as much as possible. Rinse off. Prepare a paste-like mass from soda, adding a little water to it. Rub the surface of the dishes with this gruel and leave for 1-2 hours. This will soak the dirt, and it will be easier to clean with a soft sponge.
- Special tools for stainless steel dishes. Although such a detergent costs a little more money, it will cope with the problem the best. As a rule, it is enough to heat water in the same pan, add detergent for 15-20 minutes, and then wash.
- Heating + salt. This method is for those who do not have soda or special tools at hand. Add enough water to completely cover the soot or dirt. Put the pan on the fire and boil the water. Pour 1-2 spoons of salt and mix well so that it dissolves. In no case do not pour salt into cold water, it will spoil the metal. After the water has cooled, wash the dishes, but do not scrape, if the dirt is not removed, then repeat the procedure.
- Citric acid. Heat water in a saucepan and add citric acid, boil for a couple of minutes. Leave to cool.
- Activated carbon. Cleans stains from burnt milk well. Crush a couple of tablets of activated carbon into powder, pour into a burnt stainless steel dish, pour water and leave for a couple of hours. Wash after.
- Vinegar, lemon juice, citric acid. Vinegar will help remove minor stains. Dip a pan in it and leave it for 15-20 minutes. You can do the same by using lemon juice, dissolving it in water at a concentration of 1 tablespoon per 1 glass of water, or citric acid, diluting it in water.
- Baking soda + PVA glue. If pollution or soot is significant, then heavy artillery is used. You will need a large enamel basin in which the affected pan would fit. Pour the solution completely. Detergent recipe: 5 liters of water, half a pack of soda, 100 ml of glue, a little dishwashing liquid. Boil all this together for 20 minutes. When the water cools down, it will be easy to wash off the dirt.
- Coffee grounds. Acts as a soft abrasive. Apply the paste to a washcloth with detergent and carefully wash the pan.
These are the main and most effective methods of cleaning a stainless steel pan.